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Smoke-free Legislation

Tobacco legislation is an important and cost-effective approach to tobacco control in NSW. It also complements other tobacco control activities such as education campaigns and cessation programs, and in doing so challenges the acceptability of smoking as a social norm.

Tobacco legislation puts NSW in a good position to:

  • Reduce community exposure to environmental tobacco smoke in enclosed public places
  • Reduce the marketing, advertising and promotion of tobacco products and tobacco brands
  • Discourage non-smokers from smoking
  • Limit young people's opportunities to take up smoking.

Environmental Health Officers in Public Health Units across NSW are authorised as inspectors to enforce tobacco legislation. These officers monitor compliance, investigate complaints and conduct inspections.

In NSW, there are several pieces of legislation relating to tobacco control.

Smoke-free Environment Act 2000

The Smoke-free Environment Act 2000 and the Smoke-free Environment Regulation 2007 ban smoking in enclosed public places.

Public Health (Tobacco) Act 2008

Smoke-free Legislation

The Smoke-free Environment Act 2000 requires enclosed public places in NSW to be smoke-free. The documents below may be of particular interest to owners and occupiers of licensed premises.

A series of Smoke-free NSW resources have been developed and are listed below. The brochures outline how the Smoke-free Environment Act 2000 affects each of the listed areas and also explains the impact of passive smoking in general.

From 1 July 2009, smoking in cars with a child under the age of 16 years in the vehicle will be an offence under the Public Health (Tobacco) Act 2008. The factsheet provides further information about the new law in relation to smoke-free cars.

Need more information

If you would like further information about tobacco legislation in NSW or alternatively would like to make a complaint about a possible breach, please contact the Tobacco Information Line 1800 357 412 or alternatively email tobacco@doh.health.nsw.gov.au

>> more information

Signs and resources

  • Centre Resource Unit
    A range of tobacco resources are available from the Centre Resource Unit, including free signage for tobacco retailers.

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This web page is managed and authorised by Centre for Health Advancement of the NSW Department of Health. Last updated: 12 June, 2009